Chaperoning a 12th grade AP Anatomy and Physiology class at the Boston Museum of Science
So, Tuesday the 30th of October was pretty interesting as I chaperoned my first field trip. I found it so interesting that I felt compelled to share my experience because let's face it, how many of us can honestly say we've been behind the scenes of the organization of a field trip? (Besides maybe Paul =])
It all began the night of the 29th, I received a phone call from my CT letting me know that one of our chaperones was unable to make it the next day. She asked if I knew anyone who would possibly be able to fill the spot. I tried my best but it was a full day away from work or school so noone was available. The outcome? I now had a group of 15 seniors to watch over. The next day, we board the bus to Boston and endure (And I really mean endure...I haven't ridden on a school bus is about 6 years and I was pretty much in pain 2 hours later as we arrived to our destination.) a 2 hour ride to Boston. The bus driver for some odd reason did not know the way to the Museum so we ended up driving around the city for awhile. During the time the kids are getting pretty rowdy from such a long ride. We park on the side of the road so that my CT can call the museum to get directions. Come to find out, we parked right next to the line of Red Sox fans awaiting the World Series Champions' parade! Now, imagine a bus load of seniors that are dying to be at that parade watching it begin and knowing they need to go to the Museum of Science instead. At this point I'm a little nervous as I know soon they will be my responsibility and I could see the non-compliance coming on from everybody. We finally get directions and make it to the museum. My CT informed me that I was to just let my kids know that they were allowed to wander but meet me back at a certain time for the CSI exhibit. I felt that it was a little unorganized at that point but there was still a handle on things. They all met me when they were supposed to which was great and we had a fun time at the exhibit. When the exhibit was over the kids just scattered once again without any instruction because they exited at different times. Most kids went to lunch as did I and my CT. Now comes the fun part...My CT decides to let me know that she wanted to leave at 1:45 instead of 2:30 because of the traffic due to the parade. (At this point I'm thinking to myself...Hmm, so, she wants to leave early and the kids are all over the museum and they have no idea what time we were supposed to leave in the first place, how is this going to work?) I let her know of my concerns but she said that the chaperones had the time written on their manialla envelopes so that everything would be ok. (But the kids weren't with their chaperones, so how does that make any sense?) Around 1:45 most students were hanging out at the Starbucks cafe near the gift shop so we let them know we were about to board the bus and to meet in the lobby. It was all pretty discombobulated but seemed to come together so I let it roll off my shoulders...I knew Ms. Kouttab was in control of everything anyway. We tell the kids to board and the 2nd chaperone checks them off as they enter the bus. We're missing 2 students. Luckily, my CT has their forms and cell phone numbers. We called, no answer. The museum informs us they do not make personal announcements. We double check the students on the bus and we find that we are definitely missing 2 girls. (By now, 30 minutes has passed and I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack) Finally I come up with the idea of assigning students to do a search of the girls and thankfully they are recovered within 5 minutes.
So there it is, proof of what happens when there is no communication and lack of organization. It's one thing that we were dealing with 12th graders as opposed to 7th or even 9th graders. It could have been potentially bad and very serious if we had a younger group of kids.
Reflections:
I would have approached the situation very differently. First off, I would have had a set amount of times and given each student a hard copy of these times so that they would know what was exactly expected of them. I would tell all students who had cell phones to put them on vibrate so that they would feel them ringing at all times as we might have to call them if an emergency occurred. The students would meet up with their chaperones every half hour for a head count. When it was near the departing time I would have the chaperones remind the students when we were leaving and where the meeting place was. As far as the bus ride, I will always mapquest directions for the bus driver so that time will not be wasted getting lost. All instruction about the day will also be given before we begin the field trip when everyone was paying full attention. I'm sure if I thought about it more I'd come up with other ways to better a field trip. But I think that had my objectives been put to use the trip to Boston would have ran a lot more smoothly.
Chaperoning a 12th grade AP Anatomy and Physiology class at the Boston Museum of Science
So, Tuesday the 30th of October was pretty interesting as I chaperoned my first field trip. I found it so interesting that I felt compelled to share my experience because let's face it, how many of us can honestly say we've been behind the scenes of the organization of a field trip? (Besides maybe Paul =])
It all began the night of the 29th, I received a phone call from my CT letting me know that one of our chaperones was unable to make it the next day. She asked if I knew anyone who would possibly be able to fill the spot. I tried my best but it was a full day away from work or school so noone was available. The outcome? I now had a group of 15 seniors to watch over. The next day, we board the bus to Boston and endure (And I really mean endure...I haven't ridden on a school bus is about 6 years and I was pretty much in pain 2 hours later as we arrived to our destination.) a 2 hour ride to Boston. The bus driver for some odd reason did not know the way to the Museum so we ended up driving around the city for awhile. During the time the kids are getting pretty rowdy from such a long ride. We park on the side of the road so that my CT can call the museum to get directions. Come to find out, we parked right next to the line of Red Sox fans awaiting the World Series Champions' parade! Now, imagine a bus load of seniors that are dying to be at that parade watching it begin and knowing they need to go to the Museum of Science instead. At this point I'm a little nervous as I know soon they will be my responsibility and I could see the non-compliance coming on from everybody. We finally get directions and make it to the museum. My CT informed me that I was to just let my kids know that they were allowed to wander but meet me back at a certain time for the CSI exhibit. I felt that it was a little unorganized at that point but there was still a handle on things. They all met me when they were supposed to which was great and we had a fun time at the exhibit. When the exhibit was over the kids just scattered once again without any instruction because they exited at different times. Most kids went to lunch as did I and my CT. Now comes the fun part...My CT decides to let me know that she wanted to leave at 1:45 instead of 2:30 because of the traffic due to the parade. (At this point I'm thinking to myself...Hmm, so, she wants to leave early and the kids are all over the museum and they have no idea what time we were supposed to leave in the first place, how is this going to work?) I let her know of my concerns but she said that the chaperones had the time written on their manialla envelopes so that everything would be ok. (But the kids weren't with their chaperones, so how does that make any sense?) Around 1:45 most students were hanging out at the Starbucks cafe near the gift shop so we let them know we were about to board the bus and to meet in the lobby. It was all pretty discombobulated but seemed to come together so I let it roll off my shoulders...I knew Ms. Kouttab was in control of everything anyway. We tell the kids to board and the 2nd chaperone checks them off as they enter the bus. We're missing 2 students. Luckily, my CT has their forms and cell phone numbers. We called, no answer. The museum informs us they do not make personal announcements. We double check the students on the bus and we find that we are definitely missing 2 girls. (By now, 30 minutes has passed and I feel like I'm going to have a panic attack) Finally I come up with the idea of assigning students to do a search of the girls and thankfully they are recovered within 5 minutes.
So there it is, proof of what happens when there is no communication and lack of organization. It's one thing that we were dealing with 12th graders as opposed to 7th or even 9th graders. It could have been potentially bad and very serious if we had a younger group of kids.
Reflections:
I would have approached the situation very differently. First off, I would have had a set amount of times and given each student a hard copy of these times so that they would know what was exactly expected of them. I would tell all students who had cell phones to put them on vibrate so that they would feel them ringing at all times as we might have to call them if an emergency occurred. The students would meet up with their chaperones every half hour for a head count. When it was near the departing time I would have the chaperones remind the students when we were leaving and where the meeting place was. As far as the bus ride, I will always mapquest directions for the bus driver so that time will not be wasted getting lost. All instruction about the day will also be given before we begin the field trip when everyone was paying full attention. I'm sure if I thought about it more I'd come up with other ways to better a field trip. But I think that had my objectives been put to use the trip to Boston would have ran a lot more smoothly.